The Impact of 'Praise' in the News:  Inflated Praise is Actually Harmful for Children with Low Self-Esteem

Preemies in the News: Loving Touch Critical for Premature Infants

[Source:  Science Daily]

The benefit that premature infants gain from skin-to-skin contact with their mothers is measurable even 10 years after birth, reports a new study in Biological Psychiatry.

In a new study, Dr. Ruth Feldman, a Professor at Bar-Ilan University, and her colleagues studied the impact of different levels of physical contact on prematurely born infants.

Prenatal Care in the News:  Vitamin D Levels During Pregnancy Linked to Offspring Muscle Strength  

[Source: Medical News Today]

New research published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism suggests that mothers who have a higher intake of vitamin D during pregnancy are more likely to have children with stronger muscles.

Vitamin D is known to help regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the bloodstream, as well as help cells to communicate.

The body's main source of vitamin D comes from sunlight, but foods such as oily fish, eggs, fortified cereals and powdered milk are good sources of the vitamin.

Speech Affectations in the News:  Vocal Fry 

It's called Vocal Fry. Listen closely to how stars like Kim Kardashian or Britney Spears speak...and you'll quickly recognize it. Now, kids are trying to copy this speech pattern and damaging their vocal cords in the process.   Nemours ENT Surgeon, Dr. Julie Wei & Speech Language Therapist, Kelly Hoyt, were on Good Day Orlando this morning talking about Vocal Fry.   Check it out! 

Feel Good Video of the Week:  We're Gonna Be OTs (Lorde's Royals) with Lyrics 

Autism Treatment in the News:  Wellbeing Improved' if Children with Autism Recruit Imaginary Helpers  

[Source: Medical News Today]

Researchers believe they have developed a psychological technique that improves the mental wellbeing of children with autism - through an activity that invents tiny characters the kids can then imagine are in their heads helping them out with their thoughts.

The technique - based on CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy - aims to build "social and emotional resilience," particularly for high-functioning children with autism, by recruiting imaginary homunculi characters.

Homunculi are tiny human or human-like creatures. The term is historical, from a time when the fetus was thought to be formed from a microscopic but fully formed human being.

PediaStaff Therapy Placement of the Week:  SoCal!  

PediaStaff Featured Job of the Week:  Pediatric Outpatient PT  

Our client is an outpatient clinic just outside of Forrest City, Arkansas (about 50 miles West of Memphis, Tennessee). They have an immediate need for a full-time Physical Therapist to join this team of dedicated professionals.  Ages of patients range from Birth - 12 years. Most of the children are developmentally delayed. Clinic is open from 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Each therapist has his/her own workroom, supplies, etc. Could possibly utilize an Assistant.

You caseload would be kids between Birth to 12 years of age....with most in the 3-6 year group.   You would be asked to cover 2 different facilities that are about 45 minutes apart.   You would work 2 days per wee at each...with the third day dedicated to the facility that needs you most.   As I stated...they are looking to open new locations....so get in now to be a part of their expansion.

Gross Motor Activities of the Week:  10 Ways to Practice Catching and Throwing Skills By Yourself  

[Source:  Your Therapy Source] 

Here are 10 ways to encourage catching and throwing skills in children that they can do all by themselves:  

1.  Toss a balloon up in the air and catch it.

2.  Bat a balloon up and down in the air using your hands.  How many times can you keep it up in the air without it dropping to the floor?

3.  Toss a scarf or small handkerchief in the air and catch it.

4.  Try throwing up a playground size ball and catching it and then progress to a tennis ball.

Sensory Activities of the Week:  Sensational Straws  

Random national observances can provide great inspiration for sensory diet fun.

Take National Drinking Straw Day, for instance.  This little-known observance was celebrated on January 3 in honor of the invention and patenting of the paper drinking straw by Marvin C. Stone in 1888.  However, fabulous sensory fun can be had with drinking straws all year round.  Just pick up some straws and don your on  Sensory Savvy Lenses to meet the challenge!

Instagram Ideas of the Week:  (and a Pinterest Pinboard) for Martin Luther King Day  

The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats - read this book on MLK Day and talk about how this was the first full color children's book featuring an African American child!!  Published 52 years ago!

Flesh Colored Crayons - I never could find the original source of this terrific picture, but it would make an excellent conversation starter in speech-language class for Martin Luther King Day or any day. 

Therapy Idea of the Week:  10 Ways to Use Clothes Pins with Craft Sticks